The STOP-BANG Calculator screens for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk using the validated 8-question questionnaire. Answer yes or no to questions about snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck circumference, and gender. Your STOP-BANG score and OSA risk category (Low, Intermediate, or High) are calculated automatically.
STOP-BANG Score
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OSA Risk Category
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STOP Score (out of 4)
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BANG Score (out of 4)
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The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a validated screening tool developed in 2008 by Chung et al. to identify patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It consists of 8 yes/no questions covering snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck circumference, and gender. It was originally designed as a pre-operative assessment tool for anesthetists but is now widely used in clinical settings.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, causing breathing to stop temporarily. These interruptions reduce oxygen levels and fragment sleep. When left untreated, OSA can contribute to serious health problems including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and daytime impairment.
Scores of 0–2 indicate Low OSA risk, scores of 3–4 indicate Intermediate risk, and scores of 5–8 indicate High risk. High risk can also be identified if you answer Yes to 2 or more STOP questions AND are male, have a BMI over 35 kg/m², or have a neck circumference over 40 cm. A score alone does not diagnose OSA — clinical evaluation and sleep testing (polysomnography) are required for diagnosis.
The eight risk factors are: Snoring (S), Tiredness (T), Observed apnea (O), blood Pressure (P), BMI > 35 kg/m² (B), Age > 50 years (A), Neck circumference > 40 cm (N), and male Gender (G). Each factor contributes one point to the total score. The STOP component (first 4) captures symptoms, while the BANG component (last 4) captures anatomical and demographic risk factors.
There are 8 questions in total — 4 STOP questions (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, blood Pressure) and 4 BANG questions (BMI, Age, Neck circumference, Gender). Each question is answered Yes or No, and the total score ranges from 0 to 8.
The STOP questions alone showed 74% sensitivity for moderate OSA and 80% for severe OSA. With the BANG criteria added, sensitivities increased to 93% for moderate and 100% for severe OSA. This makes STOP-BANG one of the most sensitive screening tools available, though it has lower specificity and should be followed by clinical assessment when results suggest elevated risk.
No — STOP-BANG is a screening tool, not a diagnostic one. It identifies patients who may be at risk and should undergo further evaluation. The gold standard for diagnosing OSA is polysomnography (a sleep study), which must be ordered and interpreted by a qualified healthcare provider. Always consult a physician if you suspect you have sleep apnea.
A neck circumference greater than 40 cm (approximately 15.75 inches) is considered a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea in the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Larger neck circumference is associated with more soft tissue around the airway, which can increase the likelihood of obstruction during sleep.